Before you sell your house, you want to make sure that everything is prepped and ready for any potential buyers. Before you consider selling your house, you’ll want to check for and do any necessary repairs.
While you don’t need to do an entire renovation before you sell, you’ll want to carry out basic repairs. After all, repairs can be a huge part of the real estate negotiation process. If you want to have some leverage, deal with your home repairs before an inspection and the due diligence period. Here are 15 home repairs that you need to check on before you start selling your home.
Kitchen and Bathrooms
You need to pay particular attention to your kitchen and bathrooms. These are the rooms that have a lot of electrical systems, as well as plumbing, that you need to check on.
Kitchen Appliances
From your refrigerator to your stove, you have to make sure that all of these are working as intended. Check for leaks, and while you’re at it, you might as well replace the coolant in your fridge. Whether you intend to leave your appliances in the home when you sell or not, it’s good to give them a thorough look.
Cabinets
Cabinets come in contact with a lot. Check for any damage, including water. You should also make sure that you replace any broken handles and check that the cabinet doors are able to open and close without issue.
Sinks and Faucets
Check all the pipes to ensure there are no leaks, even small ones. Make sure that the faucets with hot and cold temps are working as intended. You should also check the drain and make sure things are draining properly.
Bathtubs and Showers
While you’re thinking about drains, check the ones in your bathtubs and showers. Make sure that you scrub the tub and showers, and check that they aren’t damaged or showing signs of wear too heavily.
Home Interior
Once you cover individual rooms in your house, it’s time to look into larger parts of your home’s interior.
Paint
One of the simplest ways you can change up the feel of your home to make it look and feel brand new is by repainting the walls. We recommend starting up a DIY project and choosing neutral colors.
Flooring
Take a long hard look at your floors. Ensure they don’t have any damage, and get them replaced if they do.
Consider using a professional, like Maid Sailors, to deep clean your carpets. Steam cleaning your carpets is especially crucial if you have pets.
HVAC
Another part of your home that you need to check on is your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. You want to ensure that they all do what they’re supposed to do: Heat or cool a home.
Get a professional to clean and tune it up for you.
Lighting
If you want your house to sell, then you want to make it look big and open and welcoming.
One way to do that is through strategic lighting. Incorporate as much natural light as possible. Replace any outdated lighting fixtures that you may have for an added extra touch.
Electrical Panels and Circuit Breakers
Get the help of an electrician so that you can make sure that your electrical panels and the circuit breaker are functioning properly. You should update it to ensure that it meets any regulations.
Home Exterior
Now that you’re done with your home interiors, it’s time to look at how you can improve upon your home’s exterior. After all, your home exterior is the first thing that your potential buyer is going to see.
Garage Door
Make sure your garage door is functioning safely. If there are any major dents, you might want to consider a replacement.
Exterior Doors
Any doors leading outside should be in good shape. The locks and handles should be in good working condition. If you have any sliding doors, make sure that these are able to slide smoothly.
Roof
Make sure that your roof isn’t missing any components. Otherwise, it can lead to water damage in your house. As soon as possible, you should address any problem areas on your roof.
Eaves
Aside from the roof, you should also ensure that your eaves don’t have any rot or water damage to them. If so, hire a contractor to help you replace any boards that need replacing.
Drainage
Make sure that water is properly draining in your yard. The water from your roof should properly flow down to the drainage. If you encounter any issues, then it’s best that you address those as soon as possible.
Foundation
Get a contractor to check if your house has any issues with its foundation. They are your best resource for solutions.
Repair to Sell!
While you don’t have to completely redo your entire home and its systems before you sell, you’ll want to make sure all things are in working order for the new homeowner. Before you list, you can ask your agent about the best ways to make your home more desirable.
About the Author
Jacky Xu is the Chief Operations Officer of Maid Sailors, a home cleaning service provider based in New Your City. Maid Sailors offers its customers unrivaled vacation rental cleaning services that can address even the toughest cleaning needs matched with affordable prices.